Cadiz City Council made two critical community decisions last Friday night, approving a slight increase in the 2025-26 tax rates, as well as a remodeled nuisance ordinance bringing more power to the Code Enforcement office.
The tax change came 24 hours after members heard a lengthy presentation from City Administrative Officer Jack Lingenfelter and concerns from citizens, and for the next fiscal year, Cadiz residents will pay 22.9 cents per $100 of assessed real property value, and 43.2 cents per $100 of assessed personal property value.
Both rates are slightly above the recommended compensating rate from the Kentucky League of Cities, and roughly equate to taking the 4% model.
Councilwomen Brenda Price and Susie Hendricks, and others, again reiterated this was “a tough decision.”
Councilwoman Susan Bryant also noted it will be hard to see immediate changes, but 10 years from now it will look prudent.
Councilman Todd Wallace agreed.
Hendricks, meanwhile, reiterated this decision is more than “having another street sweeper.”
Councilman Craig Stallons said Lingenfelter’s presentation “painted a clear picture” of what the city needed.
As for nuisance changes, Lingenfelter noted several modifications are now law:
+ Unless an imminent danger exists on a property that necessitates immediate action, the City Clerk, his or her designee or the Code Enforcement Board can now cause a notice be served to the property’s owner where the nuisance exists. Posting the notice on the premises where it exists is sufficient.
+ This written notice will not only state the nuisance, but will now provide a noted deadline for removal that can be shorter or longer than 72 hours. The owner of the property now has right to a private hearing before the Code Enforcement Board, if such request is made within three businesses days of the notice.
+ This private hearing can become a public hearing with the Code Enforcement Board, if necessary.
+ If the nuisance isn’t removed by the deadline, and no public hearing is scheduled, the City Clerk or some other designee can initiate abatement and/or removal, and thus record a lien on the property in favor of the city, while charging the property owner a “reasonable value of materials and labor” spent in the cleanup effort.
+ Pursuant to state law, any persons violating provisions of Code Enforcement shall be guilty and can be fined no less than $25, nor more than $250 for each offense. Separate offenses can be deemed committed on each day during which violations occur and continue, and the matter can be pursued in both civil and criminal court.
